P 223 
.P85 
Copy 1 



JAMESTOWN 



THE CRADLE 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION 
OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES. 



I9OI 




Gass > 2 2-7 

Book^ 




S' 



' u 



JAMESTOWN 



© 



The Cradle 



OF THE 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



© 



ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION 
OF VIRGINIA ANTIQUITIES. 



1901. 



V V 







OLD^CHURCH TOWER AT JAMESTOWN. 



JAMESTOWN. 



On May 13, 1607, Captain John Smith and his com- 
panions of the voyage laid the foundation at Jamestown, 
Virginia, of the first permanent white colony in what is 
now known as the United States of America. 

The Norseman had invaded New England several 
centuries before, and the Spaniards had explored the 
territory all along the Gulf Sir Walter Raleigh's 'Most 
colony of Roanoke" had been founded, and had disap- 
peared from the shores of North Carolina, when, on 
the 13th May (old style), 1607, thirteen years before the 
Pilgrims sailed for America, the three litde ships, the 
"Susan Constant," the "Godspeed," and the "Dis- 
covery," landed, with their precious cargo, on the litde 
island, lying along the green shores of the river, called 
by the natives "Powhatan," after their great Indian 
chief. 

Here the colonists established themselves and built a 
town, calling it "Jamestown" in honor of the King of 
England; as Virginia years before had been named for 
the Virgin Queen. 



6 JAMESTOWN. 

Here then was established the first permanent EngHsh 
settlement in America. Here first Anglo-Saxon civiliza- 
tion took root in the soil of the New World. Here first 
the Anglo-Saxon Church was firmly planted in the 
Western Hemisphere. 

What was the first act of the weather-beaten colonists 
upon landing on the soil of the New World ? It was to 
worship God! They had of course no church, but they 
hung "an old saile " between three or four trees, to 
shadow them from the sun," and there they gathered 
one hundred and five souls, all told, and gave thanks to 
God for their escape from the perils of their voyage, the 
Rev. Robert Hunt conducting the services in the prime- 
val forest. In this simple church " the walls, were vales 
of wood," its seats " unhewed trees," its " pulpit a bar 
of wood nailed to two neighboring trees." 

It was not long before the church of the torn sail was 
replaced by a structure which Smith thus describes: "A 
homely thing, like a barn, set upon crochets, covered 
with rafts, sedge and earth, as could neither well defend 
from wind nor raine. " 

In 1610, by command of Lord Delaware, this church 
was repaired, and in 161 1 a log cabin was built by the 
direction of the Governor, Sir Thomas Dale. 

In 1638 a brick building, 56 by 28 feet in dimension, 



JAMESTOll^N. 7 

with a tower i8 feet square— through which it was ea- 
tered— was built with the most substantial material and 
care, as its endurance to-day testifies. It was partially 
destroyed by fire in 1676, but restored and occupied 
until 1700, when the capital was removed to Williams- 
burg. 

The old church tower still remains, pathetic in its des- 
olation. It appeals to all with artistic or historic inter- 
est. Around and about it lies the old churchyard, which 
has suffered severely fi-om the ravages of time, neglect, 
and vandalism. At least one honest man lies buried 
there. No reflection is intended on others, but we are 
sure of him, for his epitaph reads: 

Here lyeth 

William Sherwood, 

Born in the Parish of White 

Chapelle, 

Near London. 

A Great Sinner 

Waiting for a Joyful Ressurrection. 

Perhaps the most eminent man buried at Jamestown 
was Rev. James Blair, the father and first president of 



8 JAMESTOWN. 

William and Mary College, whose tomb bears a long 
Latin inscription, which describes him as a faithful serv- 
ant to his God and King. He lies near Lady Frances 
Berkeley, the relict of Sir William Berkeley, once Gov- 
ernor of the Virginia colony. His epitaph is as follows: 

H. S. E. (Hie sepultus est) 

Vir Reverendus et Honorabilis 

JACOBUS BLAIR, A. M. 

Qui 

In Scotia natus 

In Academia Edinburgensi nutritus, 

Primo Angliam deinde Virginiam 

Venit: 

Qua Parte Tenarum 

Annos LVIII. Evangelii Preconis 

LIV. Commissarii 

Gulielmi et Mariae praesidis, 

e Britanniae Principum 

Consilarii 

Concillii Praesidis 

Coloniae Prefect! 

munera sustinuit: 

ornavit 

um oris venusti Decus, 



JAMESTOWN. 9 

ate hilari sine (?) hospital! 

munificent 

issimo egenis largo 

omnibus corni 

superavit, 

CoUegio bene devioram 

Fundaverat 

eus Bibliothe cani suam 

id aleudum Theologiae studiosum 

juventutum pauperiorum instituendam 

Testamento legavit 

Cal. Maii in die 

MDCCXLIII 

aetat: LXXXVIII. 

am desideratissimi 

Seuis Laudem 

is nepotibus commendabunt 

pene marmore perenniora. 

Sarah Blair, whose epitaph says that she ' ' was univer- 
sally and exceedingly beloved and lamented," lies on 
the other side of her husband "in the hope of a blessed 
resurrection." She was the daughter of the original 
Benjamin Harrison, from Surry, England. 



lo JAMESTOWN. 

There are many other quaint old tombs in the enclos- 
ure, in a more or less mutilated condition. 

Jamestown Island lies about seventy miles below Rich- 
mond, and thirty above Newport News. It is two and 
a half miles long, and about a half mile wide. A recent 
survey gives the area as i,6oo acres. It is separated 
from the main shore by a swamp and a narrow stream, 
now crossed by a wooden bridge. It is thought that the 
colony landed on the lower end of Jamestown Island and 
the first houses were built there. But in a few years a 
move was made to the upper part, near the church, 
where a "new town," mentioned in the land patent, 
was built. 

Only the briefest possible summary of the history of 
"James Citty " (what is practically the history of the 
country for one hundred years) can be given. 

It was to Jamestown that the Indian Princess, Poca- 
hontas, came as a little girl, to visit, to help, and later 
to warn the colonists. And here, in 1614, she was bap- 
tized at the font in the church, taking the name of Re- 
becca; here, later, she finally married John Rolfe, a 
highly respectable English gentleman. 

Here, at Jamestown, the first legislative assembly 
ever convened in America met in council, with elected 
deputies, on July 30, 1619, seventeen months before the 



JAMESTOWN. II 

Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Here, in 1622, 
George Sandys composed the first poem in Anglo- 
American literature, being his translation of the Meta- 
morphoses of Ovid and the first book of the ^neid. ) 

At Jamestown, in April, 1635, occurred the first or- 
ganized resistance to governmental oppression, when 
Governor Harvey was deposed. 

In 1644, Opechancanough, the fierce old Indian chief, 
was brought to Jamestown, where he met his death. 

In March, 1652, Governor Berkeley fortified the town 
and procured the assistance of several Dutch vessels 
lying in the river, to aid in resisting an attack by the 
Parliamentary forces; but he finally surrendered on easy 
and equitable terms. 

Here, in 1660, with great rejoicing, the restoration of 
Charles II. was proclaimed. 

In 1676, many of the most interesting events of Ba- 
con's Rebellion occurred at Jamestown, and the little 
village, including State-house and church, were burnt to 
the ground by Bacon and his adherents. 

About the year 1700, the seat of government was re- 
moved to Williamsburg, and Jamestown was soon almost 
entirely abandoned. 

It is difficult to obtain any accurate idea of what James- 
town was like as the Capital of the Colony. The land 
grants give us, however, a few hints. 

, 4. u/ C. 



12 JAMESTOWN. 

In 1624, there is a mention of a " Government's Gar- 
den; " in the same year, of the " New Town; " in 1637 
of the "Brick Mill; "in 1639 of "the Church;" in 1644 
of the " Church and the State House," which were near 
each other, and also near the river; in 1644 ^^ ^^^ 
" Block House; " in 1662 of the " Churchyard;" in 1667 
of " the Three Brick Houses " (which are stated to have 
been connected), and which were formerly called the 
"Old State House," the most western of which was 
sixty-seven feet from high water mark; in 1681 of " the 
Brick House," formerly called the "County House," 
which was sold by order of the Governor and Assembly 
prior to 1666; in 1683 of the " Brick Fort; " in 1689 of 
an "Old Ruined Turf Fort," on the river bank; in 
1690 of the Churchyard; in 1694 of the " Ruins of Philip 
Ludwell's Three Brick Houses," situated between the 
State House and the County House, and in the same 
year of a lot, one of the boundaries of which was " the 
poles of the Churchyard." 

Beverley, writing in 1706, says Jamestown was then 
almost deserted. As the owners of the smaller lots on 
island moved away, their land was sold or abandoned. 
In 1653 Edward Travis had a grant of 326 acres near the 
lower end. His family gradually acquired other portions 
by purchase or grant. In 1682 Edward (his son?), ob- 



JAMESTOWN. 13 

tained a re-grant for all his lands, he held 550 acres. 
This estate remained the property of the Travis family 
until within the past century. The other portion of the 
Island became the property of Edward Jacqueline and 
his descendants, the Amblers, whose large brick , house 
has recently been destroyed by fire. This was the home 
of the two brothers, Richard and Jacqueline Ambler, 
who were so fortunate as to win from such rivals as 
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the hands of 
Mary Gary and Rebecca Burwell. 

The present wall around the graves in the church- 
yard was built early in 1800 by Mr. Ambler and Mr. 
Lee, of ''Green Spring," who had thefragments of the 
wall remaining around the old church-yard taken down 
and used in building the smaller space containing the 
present tombs. 

Two actions were fought near Jamestown in 1781, and 
heavy fortifications erected, ihere] during the late Civil 
War, are still standing. 

For more than a century the Island, with its sacred 
associations and history, lay abandoned and neglected. 
It was finally purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. 
Barney, of Dayton, Ohio, who at once took measures 
for its safety. Large sums were spent by Mrs. Barney 



14 JAMESTOWN. 

in clearing up the under-brush and protecting the ruins 
of the church tower. 

On May 3d, 1893, this public spirited lady presented 
twenty-two acres, including the church-yard and ruins, 
to the Association for Preservation of Virginia Antiqui- 
ties, a duly chartered association, with its headquarters 
in Richmond, Va. They at once took charge, and 
enclosed with a wire screen the tower and the church- 
yard, so that the ruins cannot be molested. A custodian, 
who lives in the Fort, is constantly on the alert to pro- 
tect the place. 

Recent excavations have revealed the brick foundations 
of the two different churches above mentioned, with 
many other interesting and valuable relics. This historic 
effort will be further prosecuted until all is restored. 

For long years the Island has suffered from the washing 
of the James river. By direct appeal to Congress the 
Association received the assurance that the United States 
would protect it from further damage. Two years ago 
Congress make an appropriation of $10,000 to build a 
sea wall under the supervision of one of their own offi- 
cials. An additional sum will be necessary to complete 
the work properly. For seven miles a swift current 
comes sweeping down unobstructed, and on the northern 



JAMESTOWN. 15 

end of the Island the incessant pounding of the waves 
has crumbled the clay and carried away the sand to such 
an extent that the ruins of the old city of Jamestown 
now lie under water, as one may see if he goes out in a 
boat and runs along the shore. 

A brick powder house, built by Captain John Smith, 
for the protection of arms and ammunition, was under- 
mined, and the walls tumbled into the river, only a few 
years before the island became the property of the Asso- 
ciation. Its location is marked by a mass of brick, which 
is plainly visible in the water, and which is held together 
by the original cement. 

In 1907 the Association proposes to mark with befit- 
ting ceremonies this epoch in the history of our country. 
We appeal with confidence to all the people of America 
to join with us in the effort to preserve and honor the 
cradle of the Republic. 



Wff: S 









?':^^ 




